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Gordon's slam helps keep Royals unbeaten

Shields throws three scoreless innings as Kansas City goes to 11-0

James Shields and Alex Gordon discuss their performances in the Royals' spring victory over the D-backs, including a grand slam from Gordon

By Steve Gilbert
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MLB.com |

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Royals simply cannot lose.

Thanks in part to a grand slam by Alex Gordon, the Royals beat the D-backs, 8-1, on Wednesday at Salt River Fields for their 11th straight win.

Since opening the Cactus League with a 5-5 tie against the Rangers, the Royals have not lost.

Gordon paced the Kansas City offense with the slam in the fifth inning off Patrick Corbin. Gordon went 3-fo-4, adding a single and a double, driving in four and scoring twice.

"It definitely felt good," Gordon said. "Bases loaded, I've always been told you just try to step out and relax yourself and not try to do too much. Especially on that 3-1 count, just try to stay simple and that's what I did. Sometimes you just put a good swing on it and that's what happened."

Presumptive Opening Day starter James Shields tossed three shutout innings, allowing a pair of hits while striking out two.

The Royals got on the board in the first inning against D-backs starter Trevor Cahill when Jeff Francoeur singled home Alcides Escobar, who went 2-fo-4 with two runs scored. Cahill went 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with two strikeouts.

The Royals added a pair of runs in the fourth. Escobar drove in the first run of the inning with a triple that bounced off the wall in center and scored when catcher Rod Barajas' errant pickoff throw sailed into left field.

Corbin, who is battling Tyler Skaggs and Randall Delgado for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, came on to pitch the fifth and the Royals quickly loaded the bases against him with one out.

Gordon unloaded them was he hit a drive to deep center that ricocheted off the side of the batter's eye for his second home run of the spring. The D-backs got on the board in the sixth on an RBI single by Kila Ka'aihue.

Up next for the Royals: The two teams with the best records in Spring Training collide at 2:05 p.m. CT on Thursday at Surprise Stadium. Actually, that premise is a bit diluted, because the Mariners (10-2) are splitting their squad for the day. However, they'll send their big gun, Felix Hernandez, against the Royals (10-0-1). Right-hander Ervin Santana, who zipped through two scoreless innings in his Kansas City debut, will make his second start and is scheduled to throw three innings. With Eric Hosmer just picked to play in the World Baseball Classic, the Royals will be seeing more of Billy Butler and others at first base.

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com.
Follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.